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Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Mel Tucker is a coaching chameleon, defined by his ability to adapt to whatever scheme is thrown at him, rather than the other way around.

So, it was no surprise he decided to learn former Bears coach Lovie Smith's successful scheme and terminology upon arrival at Halas Hall in January, even if meant cutting into any credit he might receive for what happens on the field. After all, if the unit remains one of the NFL's best in 2013, some inevitably will refer to it as "Lovie's defense." And if the unit slips — well, the refrain might be "Mel's no Lovie."

"Those things never cross my mind. They really haven't," Tucker told USA TODAY Sports by phone Tuesday night. "That's just not a part of what I think is important, in terms of doing what we think is best, to put these guys in the best positions to be effective.

"At the end of the day, it's going to be what it's going to be. I would be totally happy with the Bears having great success and my name never being mentioned."

A college defensive back, Tucker, now 41, got his first coaching job in 1997 as a graduate assistant at Michigan State under Nick Saban, who ran a 4-3 defense with over and under fronts. Tucker coached defensive backs in a different 4-3 scheme at Miami (Ohio) in 1999, then held the same job at LSU for one season under Saban and four at Ohio State under Saban disciple Mark Dantonio.

"When I look at a defensive scheme," Tucker said, "to me, they all make sense."

Now Tucker is incorporating elements from all those stops into a Bears defense defined for nine years by the Tampa 2 concepts Smith, who was fired after Chicago missed the playoffs for the fifth time in six years despite a 10-6 record in 2012, honed under Dungy with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the late-1990s.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Josh Bellamy (8) is congratulated by tight end Kevin Brock (46) during the second half of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Arrowhead Stadium. (Photo: Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports)

New York Jets tight end Konrad Reuland (88) fumbles after being hit by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Emmanuel Acho (53) during the first half of a preseason game at Metlife Stadium. (Photo: Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY Sports)

San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews (24) leaps towards the end zone prior to scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Photo: Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is tackled by San Diego Chargers cornerback Marcus Gilchrist (38) in the second quarter during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. (Photo: Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew (32) finds a hole in the Philadelphia Eagles defense during the first quarter of their game at EverBank Field. (Photo: Phil Sears, USA TODAY Sports)

New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) scrambles in his own end zone out of bounds against the New York Giants during the second quarter of a preseason game at MetLife Stadium. (Photo: Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Brian Leonard (30) is stopped at the one yard line by Miami Dolphins inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (59) in the first quarter at Sun Life Stadium. (Photo: Robert Mayer, USA TODAY Sports)

New England Patriots tight end Zach Sudfeld (44) celebrates a two point conversion with wide receiver Josh Boyce (82) during the first quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Gillette Stadium. (Photo: Stew Milne, USA TODAY Sports)

Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Cameron (84) makes a catch for a touchdown in the first quarter of a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at FirstEnergy Stadium. (Photo: Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports)

New York Jets tight end Jeff Cumberland (87) celebrates with Mark Sanchez (6) after catching a pass for a touchdown in the first quarter of a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. (Photo: Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Matt Willis (12) catches a pass in the end zone for a touchdown while being defended by New York Jets running back Chad Spann (30) in the second quarter of a preseason game at Ford Field. (Photo: Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports)

New England Patriots running back Shane Vereen (34) makes a touchdown catch against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of a preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field. (Photo: Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY Sports)

San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews (24) jumps over the line for a first down during the first half against the Seattle Seahawks at Qualcomm Stadium. (Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) scrambles out of the pocket for a short gain during the first half against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. (Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports)

Washington Redskins wide receiver Leonard Hankerson (85) dives into the end zone to score a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during a preseason game at LP Field. (Photo: Frederick Breedon, Getty Images)

Dallas Cowboys running back Phillip Tanner (34) runs with the ball after losing his helmet in the second quarter of the 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame game against the Miami Dolphins at Fawcett Stadium. (Photo: Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports)

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Among other things, the Bears have tested out a variety of blitz packages and experimented with rushing linemen out of two-point stances while building a library Tucker feels comfortable having them execute when it matters.

"He's going to take some of things we did last year well, and he's going to take some of the things we messed up on and improve it," Bears defensive tackle Henry Melton said. "He's not going to go and do any drastic changes, because we were a very good defense."

The Bears ranked fifth in total yards allowed last season and eighth against both the run and pass. They also led the NFL with 44 takeaways (24 interceptions, 20 fumble recoveries) and scored nine touchdowns, one shy of the all-time record for a defense.

Middle linebacker Brian Urlacher is gone, but veterans Melton, end Julius Peppers, linebacker Lance Briggs and cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings return. So far, the results have been much the same.

Through three preseason games, the Bears are tied for the NFL lead with seven interceptions and five fumble recoveries in Lovie's, er, Tucker's scheme.

"What you have to decide is how much or how little of that you're going to do, because it's a game of execution. It's a game of proficiency," Tucker said.

"It's a game of, how many times can I call a certain defense and we can (have) 11 guys on the same page? If you can do that, you're going to be successful.

"You're never completely satisfied ever with anything, I don't think. But overall, I think that it's a net positive in terms of the ground that we've covered so far. We're very early in the game here. We'll keep on plugging away."